A LITHUANIAN accused of smothering Jolanta Beldaite and hacking off her head and hands left no trace of DNA at the murder scene, a trial heard yesterday (Wednesday)
But fingerprints matching those of Vitas Plytnykas, 41, were found on bin bags containing the dead woman's belongings.
The High Court in Edinburgh has been hearing details of the major police investigation sparked when children playing on a beach
at Arbroath found Jolanta's head and hands last April 1.
During the days that followed it emerged that Jolanta's bank cards had been used to plunder pounds 1400 from her bank accounts.
A suitcase containing her mutilated body was hauled from the sea.
Clothing was found in a storage cellar at the flat in South Esk Street, Brechin, where migrant worker Jolanta, 35, lived and died and in a wheelie bin in Arbroath.
Police divers searching the River South Esk found three knives.
Aleksandras Skirda, 20, who shared a flat with Jolanta was arrested and has admitted murder.
Plytnykas denies and part in the killing, claiming he has an alibi.
Today, forensic scientist Alastair Burt, 48, reported on tests carried out on a pair of tracksuit trousers, believed to belong to Jolanta. and on a pair of trousers.
Bloodstains showed a match with a samples taken from Skirda the court heard.
Mr Burt also said that tiny traces of DNA found on one of the knives pulled from the river meant Skirda "could not be excluded."
Skirda had also been in contact with the tracksuit trousers, said Mr Burt. Mixtures of DNA which could result from Jolanta and Skirda had been found.
"But not the other accused," he told defence QC Paul McBride. "There is no sign of DNA from him." (Plytnykas)
The trial heard that carpet from the bathroom carpet of the flat had revealed only traces of Skirda.
"Again we can exclude the other accused in this case, is that right?" asked Mr McBride. "It is correct, yes," Mr Burt told him.
Mr McBride agreed there might be other explanations, but suggested one explanation was that Plytnykas was not there at all.
"If you are not one of the perpetrators you would get no blood on you at all," agreed Mt Burt.
Fingerprint expert Claire Forgan, 28, told how she was asked to compare fingerprints found on bin bags with samples taken from Plytnykas. She said she had found a total of 12 matches.
The trial continues.
